Morning Jolt: 292 missing in South Korea ferry disaster

Wednesday

Apr 16, 2014 at 9:58 AMApr 16, 2014 at 9:58 AM

In the newsA ferry carrying 459 people, mostly high school students on an overnight trip to a tourist island, sank off South Korea's southern coast on Wednesday, leaving nearly 300 people missing despite a frantic, hours-long rescue by dozens of ships and helicopters. At least four people were confirmed dead and 55 injured. The high number of people unaccounted for — likely trapped in the ship or floating in the ocean — raised fears that the death toll could rise drastically, making it one of South Korea's biggest ferry disasters since 1993, when 292 people died. One student, Lim Hyung-min, told broadcaster YTN after being rescued that he and other students jumped into the ocean wearing life jackets and then swam to a nearby rescue boat. "As the ferry was shaking and tilting, we all tripped and bumped into each another," Lim said, adding that some people were bleeding. Once he jumped, the ocean "was so cold. ... I was hurrying, thinking that I wanted to live." - APHappening todayDespite rising tensions in eastern Ukraine, Russia says it will attend international talks in Geneva on Thursday aimed at ending the crisis. - APOpening bellThe Dow Jones opened at 16,262.56 after finishing up 89.32 points Tuesday.Quote of the day“A new study says being optimistic or pessimistic may be largely genetic. In the words of my father, we're all screwed.” - Conan O’BrienMore Content Now News